Method and system of launching a projectile for destroying a target

ABSTRACT

In a system and method for launching a projectile a transmitter transmits a signal toward a projectile, a receiver receives a backscattered signal from the projectile and performs a frequency down-conversion, a signal processor detects the projectile and estimates a range, an angular position and range-rate of the projectile, a data processor estimating a flying trajectory, calculates a flying time of the projectile, and transfers a delay value to a data link device which transmits the delay value to the projectile, with the transmitting antenna transmitting a signal to the projectile to explode it at the predefined altitude near a target, and all components are located in the vicinity of the launching device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to launching of projectiles for destroying targets at a distance from a launching apparatus. More particularly it relates to methods and systems for launching from launching apparatuses of projectiles which are provided with detonators exploding in the vicinity of targets.

Conventional detonators explode in response to a strike against an object. In these cases, a part of energy of explosion propagates in a direction of movement of a projectile, for example into a ground or a wall and is actually lost without inflicting destructive actions around a point of the strike. This result is satisfactory when it is necessary to destroy an object and to make a hole in it. However, when the objective is to physically destroy an enemy, it is desirable to cover a maximum area without losing a striking force. For this purpose it is necessary to trigger detonation at a certain height, which leads to a much higher hitting result.

There are several types of detonators. A mechanical detonator has a spring clock which is adjusted for a desired time before launch, and the detonator explodes when the adjusted time is reached. The desired time of adjustment is selected according to tables representing a dependency of height from a flight time of a projectile from a moment of launching it. The disadvantage of a mechanical detonator is that its time of detonation is set up before shooting under presumption that its whole flight will take place along a preliminarily calculated trajectory. However, only after launch it is possible to determine where the projectile will actually fly.

There are non-mechanical detonators which are provided with a navigation system operating with GPS and they explode in a pre-programmed point with accuracy of the navigation system. Further non-mechanical detonators operate with electronic measurement of a height of flight and explode when the projectile reaches a desired height during its descending flight. Also there are non-mechanical detonators directed optically toward a target which is highlighted by a laser and they explode during a strike.

The non-mechanical detonators efficiently operate when adversaries do not have electronic contra measure systems (ECM). However, detonators with radio sensors can be disabled with radio interference during approach of a point of detonation. Optical detonators are simply re-routed by pointing light to a different direction, and a projectile is flying correspondingly in a wrong direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system of launching a projectile for destroying a target, which is an improvement of the existing methods and systems of this type.

In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a method of launching a projectile for destroying a target, which comprises the steps of providing a launching apparatus; estimating a trajectory of the projectile after its launch; determining from the estimated trajectory a desired time of detonation of the projectile at a desired height; transmitting the determined desired time to the projectile for detonating the projectile at the desired height; and carrying out said estimating, determining, and transmitting steps in the vicinity of the launching apparatus.

Since according to the invention all the above specified steps are carried out in the vicinity of the launching apparatus and far from a desired point of explosion of the projectile, attempts by adversaries to use an electronic contra measure systems (ECM) for intercepting a projectile near the desired point of explosion of the projectile can no longer be successful, the projectile reaches the desired altitude and it explodes at the desired height.

According to further features of the present invention the method includes transmitting a signal in a launching direction toward a projectile by a transmitter through a transmitting antenna, receiving a backscattered signal from the projectile through a receiving antenna by a receiver performing a frequency down-conversion, detecting by a signal processor the presence of the projectile and estimating a range, an angular position and range-rate of the projectile, estimating by a data processor a flying trajectory, calculating a flying time of the projectile, and transferring a delay value to a data link device, transmitting by the data link device the delay value to the projectile, and sending by the transmitting antenna a signal to the projectile to explode at the predefined altitude near a target.

A further feature of the present invention resides in a system for launching a projectile for hitting a target, which comprises a launching apparatus; and means for estimating a trajectory of the projectile after its launch, determining from the estimated trajectory a desired time of detonation of the projectile at a desired height, and transmitting the determined desired time to the projectile for detonating the projectile at the desired height, wherein said means is located in the vicinity of the launching apparatus.

According to still a further feature of the present invention said means include a transmitter transmitting a signal in a launching direction toward a projectile through a transmitting antenna, a receiver receiving a backscattered signal from the projectile through a receiving antenna and performing a frequency down-conversion, a signal processor detecting the presence of the projectile and estimating a range, an angular position and range-rate of the projectile, a data processor estimating a flying trajectory, calculating a flying time of the projectile, and transferring a delay value to a data link which transmits the delay value to the projectile, with the transmitting antenna transmitting a signal to the projectile to explode the projectile at the predefined altitude near a target.

The novel features of the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.

The invention itself however both as to its construction and method of operation will be best understood from the following description of preferred embodiments which is accompanied by the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing components of a system of launching a projectile for reaching a target according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating a process of launching a detonator-carrying projectile for reaching a target with the use of the system according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A system of launching a detonator-carrying projectile for reaching and destroying a target includes means for carrying out corresponding steps or operations from a projectile launch to sending a command for destroying a target. The above specified means M include a transmitter 1, a transmitting antenna 2, an RF₁ switch 3, a receiver 4, a receiving antenna 5, an A/D converter 6, a signal processor 7, a data processor 8, a data link 9, and an RF₂ switch 10. The means M including the components 1-10 are located in a vicinity of a launching apparatus 11. The means M including the components 1-10 can be located also straight on the launching apparatus 11.

During the operation of the system the transmitter 1 transmits a signal in a launching direction through the transmitting antenna 2 to a projectile P. The signal can be for example a radio signal or an optical signal. The RF₁ switch 3 connects the transmitter 1 to the transmitting antenna 2. The receiver 4 receives a backscattered signal from the projectile P through the receiving antenna 5, and it performs a frequency down-conversion. The A/D converter 6 converts analog signals to a digital signal data stream. The digital signal processor 7 detects the presence of the projectile P and estimates a range which is a distance to the projectile P, an angular position which is an angle between the local horizon and projectile P flying direction, and a range-rate which is a range derivative with respect to time, from the data stream.

The data processor 8 estimates a flying trajectory and calculates a flying time (t_(h)) of the projectile P to a pre-defined altitude h. The delay value (Δt=t_(h)−t_(s)) is transferred to the data link device 9. The RF₂ switch 10 connects the data link device 9 to the transmitting antenna 2. The data link device 9 send the delay value Δt through the transmitting antenna 2 to the projectile P to explode the projectile or its detonator at the predefined altitude h near a target T.

The present invention is not limited to the details shown since various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in particular in the appended claims. 

1.-4. (canceled)
 5. A method of launching a projectile, comprising the steps of providing: a launching apparatus; estimating a trajectory of the projectile after the projectile is launched from the launching apparatus; determining from the estimated trajectory a desired time of detonation of the projectile at a desired height; transmitting the desired time to the projectile for detonating the projectile at the desired height; and carrying out said estimating, determining, and transmitting in the vicinity of the launching apparatus; transmitting a signal in a launching direction toward the projectile by a transmitter through a transmitting antenna; receiving a backscattered signal from the projectile through a receiving antenna by a receiver performing a frequency down-conversion; detecting by a signal processor the presence of the projectile and estimating a range, an angular position, and a range-rate of the projectile; estimating by a data processor the trajectory; calculating a flying time of the projectile, transferring a delay value to a data link device; transmitting by the data link device the delay value to the projectile; and sending by the transmitting antenna the signal to the projectile to detonate the projectile at the desired height in a vicinity of the target.
 6. A system for launching a projectile, comprising: a launching apparatus; means for estimating a trajectory of the projectile after the projectile is launched from the launching apparatus, determining from the estimated trajectory a desired time of detonation of the projectile at a desired height, and transmitting the desired time to the projectile for detonating the projectile at the desired height, wherein said means is located in the vicinity of the launching apparatus, wherein said means include a transmitter for transmitting a signal in a launching direction toward the projectile through a transmitting antenna, a receiver for receiving a backscattered signal from the projectile through a receiving antenna and performing a frequency down-conversion, a signal processor for detecting the presence of the projectile and estimating a range, an angular position, and range-rate of the projectile, a data processor for estimating the trajectory, calculating a flying time of the projectile, and transferring a delay value to a data link device which transmits the delay value to the projectile, with the transmitting antenna transmitting the signal to the projectile to detonate the projectile at the desired height in a vicinity of a target. 